Mixing and dispensing apparatus.



L. M.- voonsmeen.

MIXING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED mu 1a. 1911.

1,258,964. Patented Mar. 12, 191&

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- IN VEN TOR.

Leo. M. WMJ'IMIR WI TN ESS:

MEZFM w fl BY A TTOR NE YS.

L. M. VOORSANGER.

MIXING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. 1911- Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR.

Ln- M VOORMAIG'ER WITNESS:

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEE1oE.

LEON M. VOOBSANGER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MIXING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 18, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEON M. VOORSANGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mixing and Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following3is a specification.

everages such as soda or root beer and other drinks termed fountain drinks are at present dispensed in a number of ways, that most universally employed being to charge the glass with syrup or flavor and thence from a separate nozzle or faucet supply the carbonated or plain water to give the required contents and appearance to the glass and properly dilute the concentrated syrup or flavor. From the latter nozzle or faucet, by the further movement of the controlling valve thereof, there is supplied the fine agitating stream to form or mm the contents of the glass.

Another method employed in dispensing root beer is to supply or admit separate streams of flavor, carbonated water under low pressure, carbonated water under high pressure and still water to a glass by the single movement of a controlling valve, and permit said streams of liquid which constitute the drink to mix within the glass.

While the latter method has advantages over the first, the same has many disadvantages, the particular one being that it is impossible to vary the proportion of the mixed syrup and water relatively to the volume of charged water. It is also impossible to obtain from the type of apparatus employed a stream of still or uncarbonated water, or to obtain a stream of charged water.

The present invention relates to improvements in dispensing and mixing valves, particularly designed for the dispensing of beverages or the more commonly termed fountain drinks, and which contain a plurality of liquids such as syrup or flavor and either plain or carbonated water or both.

The invention has for its principal objects to provide a valve wherein the discharge -port of one liquid is positioned concentrically of the discharge of another liquid, and the discharge stream of one liquid is directed into the stream of the other liquid, enabling the two streams to be thoroughly intermixed before leaving the valve; one wherein the valve controls by its selective movement the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 181,278.

supply of liquids constituting the drink; one wherein thesyrup or flavor supplied may be readily varied by the operator, enabling the strength of the mixed charge of syrup or flavor to be varied, and one wherein the measured quantity of syru or flavor admitted into the valve is wlthdrawn therefrom by the action of the fluid stream to intermix therewith under pressure.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a container with the preferred embodiment of my controlling and mixing valve applied thereto and illustrating the difl'erent receptacles or cooling chambers for the respective fluids within the container.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical central section of the mixing valve with the turnable plug member thereof in a position to admit of the passage of a mixture of lain water and syrup or flavor from'the discharge thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the valve with the turnable plug member thereof removed.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional View through the valve casing and turnable plug with the plug positioned to admit of a flow of syrup or flavor and plain water, or if the syrup or flavor valve is in closed position to admit of the flow of plain water.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4 with the turnable plug member positioned to close all communication between the various liquid supplies and the discharge outlet.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Figs. 4 and 5 with the turnable plug member rotated to admit of the passage of a stream of carbonated water from the discharge outlet.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to those of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 but with the turnable plug member rotated to admit of the passage of a mixing jet of carbonated-water from the discharge outlet. p

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the mixing chamber within the turnable plug member.

Refen'in more particularly to the several views of tie drawings, wherein like char acters of reference designate corresponding parts, 1 indicates a suitable contamer preferably in the form of a barrel and within the same are the cooling chambers 2 and 3 connected respectively to a supply of plain water under pressure and a supply of carbonted water under pressure. A suitable cooling chamber 4 isalso positioned within the container 1, and the same is adapted for containing a quantity of concentrated flavor or syrup, such as that employed in dispensing fountain beverages such as root beer, fruit drinks or soda water. The contents of the cooling chambers 2, 3 and 4 is preferably maintained at a low temperature by the use of ice deposited within 'the container 1, and said fluids pass from the respective chambers through the outlets 5, 6 and 7 leading exteriorly of the container 1, as in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The container or barrel 1 is preferably finished and polished on its exterior and is preferably of a size for seating on a counter or the like to convey to patrons that the same contains root beer or other beverage, whichis drawn therefrom through the mixing faucet or valve A carried on the exterior thereof in any suitable manner, as in Fig. 1 of the drawings;

The valve consists of a casing 8 including a tubular supporting arm 9 havlng a flan ed base 10 for contacting with the outer sur ace of the receptacle when the valve is secured in position thereto, as in Fig. 1. The valve casing is formed in its front wall with a. cylindrical recess 11, Fig. 3 of the drawings, and communicating with the same through the lower Wall is the channel 12 of the discharge nozzle 13. 'The upper portion of the casing 8 is provided with a vertical bore 14 which is in alinement with the channel 12 and within the same is rotatably positioned a valve 15 having a channel 16 extending longitudinally thereof and opening at its upper end through a port 17 in the valve side wall.

A suitable nut 18 surrounding the stem mounted on the upper portion of the casing 8, the adjustment of the screw 22 retaining the collar 23 in fixed position on said casing, 8. The pipe 7 connects with the casing 8 through the duct 21 with which the port 17 registers. It will thus be apparent that the operation of the valve 15 controls the flow of concentrated flavor or syrup passing from the container 4 into the valve casin 8.

Within the recess 11 of the valve casing 8 is positioned a valve member 25 of the turn plug type, cylindrical in cross section and of a diameter to snugly fit the circumferential edge of the recess 11 and provide a substantially fluid-tight joint between the meeting surfaces thereof.

The valve 25 has fiat inner and outer faces 26 and 27 and is removably retained in position within said recess 11 by a rotatable collar 28 loosely mounted on the stem 29 ex tending from said valve, and said collar has adjustable threaded engagement with said casing, as at 30, to force the inner flat fa'cc thereof into contact with the gaskets or packing members 31 seated in suitable recesses within the inner surface of the recess 11. An operating handle 32 connects with the stem 29to facilitate the operation or rotation of the valve within the confines of the groove or recess 33 in the rear face thereof into which projects the limiting pin 34.- extending outwardly from the valve casing 8 into the recess 11. The gaskets are preferably positioned over the discharge ends of the outlets 5 and 6 which extend through the supporting arm 9 and communicate with the recess 11 through the respective ports 35 and 36 in the rear wall thereof.

In the employment of this valve "in the dispensing of beverages, it is preferable to admit of a passage through the discharge nozzle of an admixture of plain water and concentrated flavor or syrup, the percentage of syrup or flavor being easily varied by the operator. It may be desirable to admit of the passage of a stream of plain water with out the syrup or flavor, or a voluminous stream of carbonated water, and to accomplish these results the valve 25 is preferably constructed in the following described manner and is operated as hereinafter set forth.

The valve 25 is formed with a passage B extending diametrically through the same, and the same is enlarged at its upper end, as at 37, the wall of said enlargement being beveled as at 38 to connect with the contract-ed end 39 of said passage. A suitable tubular nozzle or tip 40 is positioned within the enlarged upper end 37 of the passage B, a portion of the outer wall of said nozzle being reduced to lie in spaced relation to the wall of said enlarged portion, providing a chamber C surrounding thedower en thereof, and the lower end of said nozzle is beveled to correspond to the wall 38, and is of a length to fall short of contacting with the upper end of the wall of the contracted discharge end 39, thereby providing an outlet for said chamber C intermediate of the lower end of the nozzle or tip and the contracted discharge end 39. .The valve is provided in its rear face with a port 41 communicating with the chamber 2, and adapted when the valve is rotated to the position as in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, with the upper end of the passage B in register wlth the port 16, and the lower end 1n reglster with the discharge nozzle 13 to register with the port 35 and admit of the passage of plain water under pressure into the chamber C; this being illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. The water under pres sure in leaving the chamber C is directed by the wall 38 and exterior wall of the nozzle or tip into the form of a cone inclosing the discharge end of the nozzle or tip prior to passing through the contracted discharge end 39 of the passage B. The discharge of the water from the chamber C creates a vacuum within the nozzle or tip 40, withdrawing therethrough a given quantlty of syrup or flavor from the receptacle 4, dependent upon the position of the valve 15, the water and syrup or flavor being thoroughly intermixed due to the directing of the water stream into the flavor or syrup stream prior to leaving the valve 25.

It will be apparent that the flow of water under pressure withdraws, due to the created vacuum, the syrup or flavor admitted into the valve 25, due to the position of the same, and said water volume and flavor or syrup are thoroughly intermixed before discharging from the nozzle 13. The position of the valve 15 controls the iproportion of syrup in any given charge water, and the disposing of one stream concentrically of the other of a higher pressure, and directing the latter into the former insures a thorough mixture of the two fluids before leaving the nozzle 13.

When it is desired to draw plain water, it is only necessary to rotate the valve to closed position prior to positioning the valve as in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. The valve 25 is provided on its rear wall, adjacent to said port 41, with an inwardly extending bore 42 connecting within the valve with the inner end of a radially disposed outwardly flaring duct or outlet 43, and adjacent to said bore 42, preferably intermediate the same and the port 41, is another bore 44, connecting within the valve with the inner end of a duct or outlet of a diameter considerably less than that of the duct or outlet 43.

In dispensing a beverage, it is desirable, after supplying the charge of flavor to the a glass, to admit thereinto a quantity of,car-

bonated water which dilutes the flavor charge, adds volume to the drink, and makes the same more palatable, and in operating the valve 25 .in dispensing a drink, the same is rotated in a clockwise direction from the position in Fig. 4 through the position in Fig. 5 and into the position Fig. 6 wherein in all fountain drinks, and to accomplish this, the valve 25 is moved in a clockwise direction from the position in Fig. 6 to that in Fig. 7 which operation removes the bore 42 from register with the pipe 6 and places the bore 44 in register therewith, permitting of a fine stream of carbonated water to pass through the bore 44 into the nozzle 13 and agitate the contents in the glass.

The formation of a groove 40' annularly of the exterior of the nozzle 40, enables the still liquid in the chamber C to build up at a uniform pressure circumferentially of the same, insuring a uniform volume of fluid under pressure surrounding the discharge end of the nozzle into the contracted end 39 thereof.

While I have illustrated the supply of still water connected with the port 41 on the rotation of the valve whereby syrup and still water is intermixed prior to discharging from the nozzle 13, it is obvious that the pipes 5 and 6 may be transposed, thereby providing a flow of carbonated water to intermix with the syrup.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a syrup supply, a still liquid supply and a charged liquid supply, a dis ensing faucet connected therewith and provided with a movable ported valve member, said valve capable of an operating cycle in a single direction to sequentially dispense a mixture of still liquid and syrup, charged liquid in volume, and charged liquid in a fine mixing stream.

2. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a syrup supply, a liquid supply under pressure, a dispensing faucet connected therewith having an outlet and provided with a controlling valve, a channel therein for delivering a stream of liquid under pressure to said outlet, a concentrically disposed nozzle within and of a diameter less than said. channel, said nozzle connecting with the supply of syrup, whereby the stream flow of the still liquid under pressure incloses said nozzle and withdraw syrup therethrough.

3. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a syrup supply, a liquid supply under pressure, a dispensin faucet connecting therewith and provide with a discharge nozzle, a valve wlthin said faucet for controllin the dispensing of liquid from said disc arge nozzle, sai valve provided with a channel for communicating at one end with said liquid under pressure and at its opposite end with said discharge nozzle, a nozzle within said valve and communicating at one end with said syrup supply, the opposite end of said nozz e projectin into said channel and arranged concentrically within the same with its lower end spaced from the lower end of said channel, a portion of the wall of said channel bein directed toward the discharge end of said nozzle whereby the liquid flow under pressure will create a vacuum over the discharge end of said nozzle and withdraw syrup therethrough, said syrup and fluid under pressure intermixing prior to passing from said valve.

4. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a syrup supply, a still liquid supply, and a charged liquid supply, a dispensin faucet connected therewith and provided with a ported movable valve member, said valve member capable of an operating cycle in a single direction to sequentially dispense a mixture of still liquid and syrup, charged 1i uid in volume, and charged liquid in a ne mixing stream, and a controlling valve for varying the proportion of syrup in the mixture of syrup and still liquid.

5. A liquid dispensing valve, including a valve casing provided with a plurality of independent fluid supply connections and a single fluid outlet, a rotatable valve within said casing provided with an open ended channel extending diametrically therethrough for communicating at one end with said discharge nozzle, a tubular nozzle extending into the opposite end of said chan nel and for registering at one end with one of said fluid supply connectionswhen said channel is in register with said discharge nozzle, a portion of said nozzle being concentrically disposed within and of a diameter less than said channel thereby providin a chamber within said valve, said valve bemg further provided with a port for connectmg another of said fluid supply connections with said chamber above the discharge end of said nozzle simultaneously with the registering of said nozzle and said first mentioned fluid supply connection,

6. A valve comprising a casing having a air of inlet openings and an outlet openmg formed therein, one of said inlet openings being positioned in vertical alinement with the outlet and the other inlet opening being formed in the end of the casmg at right angles to the vertical inlet, a valve rotatably mounted in the casing and having an open ended channel extending diametrically therethrough and adapted to forma direct communication between the vertical inlet and the outlet, said valve being further provided with a second channel which communicates at one end with the right angular inlet and at the other end with the first named channel intermediate of its length, and a nozzle mounted in the upper end of said first named channel and extended concentrically therein to a point below the intersection of said second and first named channels.

7. A Valve comprising a casing having a cylindrical chamber formed therein, said casing provided with two inlet openings communicating with the casing through the end wall thereof, said casing being further provided with an inlet opening in the top thereof and an outlet opening in the bottom, all of said openings communicating with a cylindrical chamber, a cylindrical valve mounted within said chamber and provided with a three-way passage, the main channel thereof extending diametrically therethrough for communicating at one end'with the outlet opening in the casing and at the opposite end with the upper inlet, the outer end of the lateral channel of said three-Way passage communicating with one of the inlet openings in the end of the casing, said valve also having a pair of'angularly shaped two-way passages therein each adapted to communicate at one end with the outlet opening in the casing and at the other end casing.

8. n a liquid dispensing apparatus, the

combination with a syrup supply, a still liquid supply, and a charged liquid supply, a dis ensin faucet connected therewith and provided with a ported movable valve memher, said valve member capable of an operating cycle in a single direction to sequentially dis use a mixture of still liquid and syrup, 0 arged liquid in volume, and charged liquld in a fine mixing stream, a controlling valve for varying the tion of the syrup in the mixture 0 syrup and still liquid, and an adjustable means for limiting the throw of said latter valve.

9. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a syrup supply and a liquid supply under pressure, a dispensing faucet connected therewith and provided with a movable ported valve member, means for positioning said valve to admit a flow of liquid under pressure from said liquid roporwill flow in a given direction and surround said syrup supply withdrawing syrup from said syrup sup ly, and a valve for regulating the outlet rom said syrup.

10. In a liquid dispenslng a paratus, the combination of a plurality of uid supplies, one under pressure and each having arseparate outlet, a dispensing faucet connected therewith and provided with a controlling valve, said valve provided with a pair of channels having separate inlets and a common outlet, and adapted on the operation of the valve, to simultaneously register at their inlet ends with the respective fluid outlets, whereb the flow of fluid throu h the channel registering with the fluid supp y under pressure will surround the discharge end of the other channel and withdraw liquid through the other supply.

11. A valve comprising a casing having a pair of fluid inlet openings and a liuid outlet opening therein, a valve rotatably mounted in the casing and having an open ended chamber extending therethrough and adapted to form a direct communication between one of said fluid inlets and the fluid outlet, said channel having a contracted discharge end, said valve being further provided with a second channel connecting at one end with the other inlet opening and at its opposite end with said first named channel intermediate of its length, and a nozzle mounted within the upper end of said first mentioned channel and extending concentrically therein to a point below t e intersection of said first and second named channels and terminating short of the contracted end of said first named channel, the passage through said nozzle being in direct alinement with the discharge of said channel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of the subscribini1 witness.

L ON M. VOORSANGER.

Witness:

D. B. Browns. 

